Hot Tea: Both Green and Chai

This isn't a botanical lesson or a geography lesson so if that's what you're expecting I'm sorry.  In years past my favorite hot drink was coffee and I consumed an average of 6 cups a day.  Then about 20 years ago I started introducing decaffeinated coffee into my routine and then my overall intake of coffee started dwindling to the present 1 or 2 cups a day.

However, my appreciation of specific teas has grown considerably and, at the present time, I consumer 2 to 4 cups of tea a day.  Every morning I start my day with a brisk hot cup of green tea sweetened with a packet of stevia.  Green teas are assigned many many claims of being super healthy and apparently the scientific research and evidence indicate the same.  It is loaded with antioxidants and is credited with several properties that promote a healthier cardiovascular system and immune system.


Fields of tea plants in Africa



As a cancer survivor, and like most cancer survivors, the search and discovery of something to assist in the lifelong battle is a priority.  When I found green tea and, then, when I discovered I really enjoyed the flavor and warmth that it gave me I was pleased on many levels.  Each day around 4pm I prepare myself a cup of green tea with several slivers of fresh ginger.  The tea and ginger steep together and then I add the stevia.  I can now appreciate how special a good cup of tea that is enjoyed and savored, can be.

Along with the personal discovery of green tea, I found chai tea.  Chai tea is a blend of teas and herbs and spices, of which there are many blend varieties.  My current favorite is Good Earth Chai Tea (Black Tea and spices).   The blend ingredients are as follows:  Black Tea, Chicory Root, Cardamom, Ginger Root, Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Star Anise, Nutmeg and Cloves.  This mixture tends to have a natural sweetness but I still add a packet of stevia.  Also, I add 1/4 cup of heated Blue Diamond Vanilla Almond Milk.  The final cup of tea is soothing, peaceful, and just delicious.

The chai blend offers these herbal contributions as printed in Rodales Encyclopedia of Herbs:
chicory root:  a mild tonic with calming effects.
cardamom:  aids digestion and sweetens the breath.
ginger root:  a milk stimulant to aid circulation and soothes indigestion and motion sickness.
black pepper:  stimulant to digestion and circulation.
cinnamon:  natural antiseptic, stimulant for circulation and digestion.
star anise:  a mild expectorant, aid to digestion.
nutmeg:  in small amounts aids digestion. (in large amounts is quite toxic)
cloves:  a mild anesthetic, moderate germicidal.

So, as you can see, we obviously get great flavor and some added benefits from drinking green tea and chai tea.  I also enjoy oolong tea with a little squeeze of lemon.

I invite you to give these a try and explore the world of teas. 
                                                         You owe it to yourself!